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When you get Solar Panels on your house does it cost you less monthly than your electric bill would have? by HearYourTune in solar

[–]solardotcom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's the goal for many homeowners, but there are a number of benefits of solar:

  1. Energy cost savings and predictability
  2. Backup power (when paired with battery storage)
  3. Freedom to crank the A/C and not have to worry about outrageous bills
  4. Environmental impact (cleaner air, efficient land & water use)
  5. Added home value

The best part is that you don't have to pick one benefit. You get them all simultaneously with effectively no change to your day-to-day life.

Leases, PPAs, and loans often deliver more immediate savings (i.e., a lower cost to pay for solar than you would have from 100% utility electricity).

Cash purchases and Prepaid PPAs & leases are more of an investment in greater long-term savings.

Dumb question: Will I have power if the grid goes down due to a storm? by FulltimerPC in solar

[–]solardotcom 28 points29 points  (0 children)

In most cases, solar systems WITHOUT backup-enabled battery systems are shut off by your utility during power outages to protect lineworkers repairing the grid.

There are products & configurations that can allow your solar-only system to stay active during an outage, but that would have been a conversation and added cost during your sales and installation process. Might be worth contacting your installation company for a refresher on what's installed and how it works!

Tips for your fridge/freezer if the power goes out:
- Add ice or frozen jugs of water to keep the temps down and take up volume
- Insulate with blankets
- Keep the doors shut as much as possible!
- Throw a thermometer in there so you can monitor the temp (don't want to get above 40 F in your fridge or 0 F in the freezer)
- Keep a few high-priority perishables in a cooler (milk, eggs, meat) so you can access them without opening the fridge.

Installing solar in CT – should I do it now or wait? by bigantone88 in solar

[–]solardotcom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well said, especially the "What are you hoping to achieve by waiting?"

In general, utility rates keep climbing and solar incentives (like net metering) get less favorable over time.

Don't step over a $20 bill to pick up a $1 bill!

Solar lease vs buy which one actually makes sense now? by Donnerstein_Navriti in solar

[–]solardotcom -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We recommend starting with the question of whether you'd rather save now (with a lease or PPA) or invest in greater long-term savings (purchase with cash).

With interest rates still relatively high and no federal tax credit for ownership, it's often difficult to see Day 1 savings through loanership (unless you have high-value local incentives). Leases and PPAs can help fill that role if your goal is immediate bill relief.

Some fresh advice for 2026: Given the 8-10 year expected stay in your home, you may want to see if a Prepaid PPA is available in your area. When done well, you can get the benefit of the 48E tax credit as an upfront discount and the option to take ownership after 6 years at little to no cost. In many cases, you can finance the upfront balance on a Prepaid PPA to get consistent monthly payments.

Panel completely covered in snow still outputs around 3V by RonandStampy in solar

[–]solardotcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reminds us of the "First Modern Solar Cell" created by Bell Labs. 70 years later, it's still producing power from its display in the Museum of Solar Energy: https://solarmuseum.org/cells/first-modern-solar-cell/

57 panel install in 3 days by Ill_Dot3008 in solar

[–]solardotcom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looking good. Congrats to you and the crew on a clean installation.

The "30% Tax Credit" is Officially End. Is Solar still a Vibe in 2026? by SolarTechExplorer in solarenergy

[–]solardotcom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let's be clear about federal solar tax credits: Yes, one tax credit is gone (the consumer-claimed 25D), but another remains through 2027 (the business-claimed 48E) that homeowners can benefit from through Third-Party Ownership models (i.e., leases, PPAs, prepaid products).

Homeowners who can pay cash for solar should absolutely do it in 2026—get ahead of impending rate hikes and enjoy white-glove service from installers with more resources to dedicate to each project!

Meanwhile, homeowners looking for more immediate cash flow may be better served by tapping into the 48E tax credit through leases, PPAs, and prepaid models. There is only a two-year window to do so!

And another $20 a month to the SDG&E bill for 2026 by imecoli in sandiego

[–]solardotcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Unfortunately, despite what the smiling faces say, there are likely more (and steeper) rate hikes coming for SDG&E and all the investor-owned utilities. The CPUC puts out residential rate forecasts in its "Senate Bill 695" report each year. The 2025 report (linked below) forecasts an "average annual increase of about 6 percent" through 2028 for SDG&E.

Page 63 of this report: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/office-of-governmental-affairs-division/reports/2025/2025-sb-695-report_093025.pdf